“I grew up in a small Lao community that gossip and of course my grandmother was a part of that. The acting and retelling of other people’s stories in my grandmother’s house was the backbone of my comedy. It’s funny to think back that it all started from gossiping, but I would like to think of it more as storytelling.”
“I made videos based on my childhood and Lao culture, and I found a Lao community online. It felt good to know people shared laughs between each other from watching my videos and connecting to the simple fact that we are all Lao.
I have always been insecure about my personality for most of my life. I thought it could be a bit overwhelming for others, but I learned later in life that my big personality has made a lot of people happy. I was a part of many people's happy memories and that was how I found confidence in myself.”
Victoria P, Fresno, CA
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At the AB 1393 event in Sacramento, Lao communities up and down California gathered to advocate for Laotian history and cultural studies to be included in the California K-12 school system. On that day, the room was filled with so many Lao people, Lao music, and powerful Lao voices. I felt so strong about this bill passing, but no one really would listen to my voice. Yet, I felt the need to be a part of the movement so badly that the only way I could think of grabbing attention was to make people laugh.
It was a month after the event that I created That One Lao Girl videos to give my voice a platform and to connect with other Lao folks.”
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Where is the Laotian representation? Why don't people know of the war torn land that my people had to escape? And why did I always feel so out of place in middle school and high school? I am so foreign, yet who I am is not important enough to be taught in school or shown on television.”
“I grew up in a 2 bedroom apartment with a family of 7. Every morning before school starts, I'm awakened by the smell of Lao food my mother cooks to package and sell to her coworkers at lunch for extra cash. I would fold up an old futon cushion we used to sleep on the living room floor. This was normal for me.”
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I did not know I was in the hood or that I was poor. Everyone I knew lived like this, which was mainly Laotian refugees and Mexican immigrants. It was at middle school when I first attended a school with primarily white students that lived in big houses and owned a cell phone. Meanwhile, I owned knockoff LaCoste polos made in Thailand that my aunt sent over. I have never felt embarrassed until I came to this school. This is when I felt the least American because I truly felt I did not relate to any of them.”
“In high school, we moved up north to a predominantly white neighborhood. They called the cops on us the day we moved in because they thought we were breaking in. I did not know that moving into this house was the end of an era.”
“The apartment complex I lived previously was ghetto. Gangsters staring at you as you walk home. Drivebys keep you up at night. Yet, I yearn to be back. There were so many Laotians that lived there. We created a community there. There was a lady that sells papaya salad next to the playground. Older folks playing cards in the grass area. My friends and I would play Chinese jump rope made of rubber bands that we hand-braided ourselves. I really felt like I knew myself then.”
